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William Henry Mander

Sometimes, pieces of Trench Art contain clues of their origin, as in this pair of shellcases in my collection, one engraved with the name "W Mander"

William Henry Mander enlisted with the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1909, and subsequently the Great War brought him to Armentieres, where on 14th. February 1915 Private Mander bravely went out three times from the trenches into "No Mans Land", whilst under fire from the enemy, to repair vital telephone wiring which was essential for battle communications.

As a result of this exceptional bravery, he was awarded the D.C.M. (Distinguished Conduct Medal - second award only to the Victoria Cross)

Transferring to the Royal Engineers, he saw out the war as a Lieutenant Corporal and in 1919 took with him to civilian life his D.C.M., Victory Medal, British Medal and War Badge. His reserved occupation with the General Post Office re-commenced, and many years later in 1950 he earned an Imperial Service Medal following 25 years' meritorious and faithful service for the GPO

My Trench Art shellcases are pictured here below, and joined together with many other historic personal items which survived together as a collection over the years, for the memory of William Henry Mander